NASA DIRECT! TO PROVIDE LIVE COVERAGE OF MESSENGER LAUNCH
George Diller
July 27, 2004
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)
KSC Release: 57-04
NASA Direct! to Provide Live Coverage of MESSENGER Launch
The NASA Direct! Web site is featuring two webcast events and live
countdown coverage for MESSENGER, NASA's upcoming mission to unlock
the secrets of Mercury the least explored planet in our Solar System.
Programming begins July 29 at 2 p.m. EDT and concludes after launch,
currently scheduled for August 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station in Florida.
The first NASA Direct! webcast, "MESSENGER Science and Technology,"
begins at 2 p.m. EDT July 29. The program will open with a welcome
and introduction by Dr. Orlando Figueroa from NASA's Office of Earth
Science. After an introduction by Cheryle Mako, Mission Integration
Manager for NASA's Launch Services Program, MESSENGER Project
Scientist Dr. Ralph McNutt will lend his expertise describing the
science and technology of the exciting mission, and answering the
public's questions.
On July 30 at 2 p.m. EDT, NASA Direct! will broadcast "MESSENGER
Mission Overview." This informative webcast will begin with a welcome
by Kennedy Space Center Director James Kennedy. Host Tiffany Nail
will then introduce James Leary, MESSENGER's Mission System
Specialist. Leary will answer questions about the spacecraft and
explain how it was designed to survive the extreme temperatures of
Mercury. Next up will be NASA Launch Manager Chuck Dovale, who will
offer an overview of the launch process and readiness of the
spacecraft and launch vehicle. Programming will conclude with Delta
Launch Weather officer Joel Tumbiolo, who will provide a forecast of
projected local weather conditions at the time of launch.
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